Outlander devotees are abuzz with excitement over new snippets teasing the second instalment of the show’s seventh series, although some have been amusingly sidetracked by Roger Mackenzie (played by Richard Rankin).
Richard has been snapped in a rather odd stance in the recently released sneak peeks for the soon-to-arrive continuation of season seven.
The hotly awaited return of the smash-hit Starz time-travel saga is set for this November, ending a suspense-filled hiatus since last summer’s mid-series cliffhanger.
Central couple Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire Fraser (Caitriona Balfe) are plotting their route back to Scottish lands, while Roger and William Buccleigh ‘Buck’ MacKenzie (Diarmaid Murtagh) adventure through time to find Roger and Brianna’s (Sophie Skelton) child Jemmy.
Newly unveiled pictures from the forthcoming episodes give fans a glimpse of some familiar faces returning to the screen, including Roger’s forebearers Dougal MacKenzie (Graham McTavish) and Geillis Duncan (Lotte Verbeek).
Yet, among the serious dramatic developments, it is Roger’s retro appearance in his and Brianna’s 1980s life that has sparked a lighter conversation among followers.
His exaggerated gesture and peculiarly placed hand while he stretches out to rest against their vehicle drew amused comments from the viewers.
On Reddit, where the snaps were shared, one enthusiast couldn’t suppress their mirth, writing: “Lol idk why but Roger’s hand in the car pic took me out,” peppered with laughing-tears emojis.
“Same!! I was looking for this comment,” chimed in another.
Zooming in on the intricacies of the pose, an additional fan highlighted, That thumb is doing some crazy s**t!” Another observer quipped: “It looks like an AI hand lol.”
Another chimed in with: “I was hoping someone else saw it too. All he has to do is tilt his head back and dump a bucket of water over himself. Its such a jarringly ‘fabulous’ pose lmao.”
Despite the mixed reactions, Richard received heaps of praise from numerous fans, potentially eclipsing his co-star Sam as Outlander’s top heartthrob.
“Roger in the 80s is so freaking handsome. I love the haircut and the beard,” swooned one fan.
“Never did I ever think I’d find Roger hot but COME ON,” exclaimed another, punctuating their sentiment with a series of fiery emojis.
“I’ve always found the actor good looking, but the period hairstyles he wore didn’t flatter him,” confessed another fan. “The current one, though… Agreed, he looks gorgeous.”
Fans of Outlander are on the edge of their seats, eager to see if Roger’s journey through time will culminate in a successful reunion with his stunning wife Brianna in the 20th Century.
Catch the next chapter of Outlander with season 7, part 2 premiering Sunday, November 22 on Starz.